Vehicle headlight



H. R. DAvlEs vEHICLE HEADLIGHT Sept. 1l, 1923.

Filed Feb. 13 1918 Patented Sept. 1l, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

HENRY B. DAVIES, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC AUTO-LITE CORPORA- TION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

VEHICLE HEADLIGHT.

Application Med February 13, 1918. Serial No. 216,855.

To all'wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. Diivins, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Headlights, of

which I declare the following to be a full,`

clear, and exactdescription..v v

This invention relates to vehicle headlights, and particularly to that type of headlight wherein the reflector is pivotally movable.

The principal object of thc' invention is to provide-means for obscuring the forward reflection of a headlight, particularly as applied to automobiles, by the dual and separate movement of both light source and relector.

Another object is to design an arrangement whereby the light will be automatica ly thrown oil focus when the reflector is tilted and to provide a construction of the character indicated in which the tilting of the reflector is obtained by or through the medium of a movable light source.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture'and details of construction, will deiinitel appear from the detailed description to ollow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention in one instance by the means described 1n the following speciiication,.but it is evident that the same may be yvaried widely without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as` pointed out 1n the appended claims.l

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of m invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forminga part of this specification, in which n Fig. I is a view showing a vertical section through an automobile headlight;

Fig. II is a detailed view of the lamp and operating mechanism;

Fi III is a sectional view taken on line III- II of Fig. I; and

Fig. IV is a perspective view of a buffer plate. 3

In the drawing, similar reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the small arrows.

is necessary that illumination be provided for the moving vehicles and also that the illumination so provided be so diilused as not to dazzle or confuse oppositely moving drivers and pedestrians. For this purpose, the use of a headlight in which the reflector could be tilted, thus throwing the light im-l mediately in front of the vehicle, has found considerable success.- A disadvantage, .however, results where the lamp is fixed to the reflector for the reason that, when tilted,'

the lamp is still in focus and thelight is centered in small circular areas immediately in front of the automobile. To remove this difliculty, it is necessary to throw the lamp out of focus in the tilting movement, and this result I obtain in my invention.

The headlight comprises a casing 1, to which is attached the usual glass 2, and holding rim 3. Pivoted to the bracket 4 at the top of casing, is the reflector 5, the lower edge of which is down-turned as at 6, to 'contact with a stop bracket 7. A spring 8 tends to hold the reflector edge against lthe stop. 'The reflector is of ordinary parabolic form and at its apex is apertured to receive the lamp socket 9. The diameter of the aperture is. greater than that of the socket, to such an extent that the lamp may be tipped. completely out of focus before it engages the reflector.

For proper manipulation of the lamp, the lamp socket is pivoted on rods 10 and 11, fixed to the casing walls, and an operating mechanism is connected to the socket adjacentv its end'. A clamp12 is attached to the socket, and a bell-crank 13 is fulcrumed on lugs in the casing-wall and extends through an aperture .14 adjacent the lugs, so that the bell-crank may have l a pivotal movement. The inner terminal of the bell-crank is connected to the clamp 12 by means of a link 12', and the outer terminal is connected to a rod or wire 15, leading back to the steering wheel. In order to hold the socket in a normally fixed position, I provide a downwardly extending stop plate 16, the upper end of which is attached to the headlight casing, and the lower end of which is cut out to conform to the socket contour in transverse section, and engages the socket intermediate its pivot and end. A spring 17 normally retains the socket against the stop plate.

the use of public highways at night, it As a means for a'ording longitudinal wd:

justment of the lamp, a screw adjustment indicated at 18 is provided, and access to this screw is obtained through the aperture 19 in the casing. A spring retained cover 20 for this aperture is also rovided.

When it is desired to ifl'use the light for any reason, a slight movement of the actuating lever lifts the lamp out of focus, thereby effectively diminishing its illumination intensity. If it is desired that the light be further diffused or varied, the lever is moved further, and the socket bearing on the reflector, lifts it to such an extent that the' light is directed to the space immediately in front of the vehicle. The position of the lamp in its tilted position, further causes a complete diffusion of the light, bringing about general illumination in front of the vehicle.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention-herein shown and described is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the s irit of my invention, and I desire, there ore, to claim the san'ie broadly as well as specificalIlly as indicated by the appended claims.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. In a headlight, the combination of the casing, a reflector pivoted in said casing, a lamp socket pivoted in said casing, means for tilting said socket independently of said reflector and for tilting both said socket and said reflector. v y

'2'. In an electric headlight, the combination of a casing, a reflector pivoted in said casing, a lamp socket in said casing, and

singlemeans for causing an initial movement of said socket relative to and independent of said reflector and a subsequent movementl of said reflector.

3. In an electric headlight, the combination of a casing, a pivoted reflector in said casing, a pivoted lamp socket in said casing, and single means for 4moving said lamp socket both independently of said reflector and with said reflector.

4. In an electric headlight, the combination of a casing, a pivoted reflector in said casing, a pivoted lamp socket in said casing, an electric lamp in said lamp socket, lying normally in the focal axis of the reflector;

i and means for shifting the lamp out of said lmounted therein, a lamp socket also pivot-y ally mounted therein, a lamp bulb in said socket normally lying in the focal axis of said reflector, means for shifting said lamp independently of said reflector to a position out of said focal axis and for subsequently shifting said reflector.

7. In an electric headlight, the combination of a casing, a reflector pivotally mounted therein, means normally holding said reflector in an u right position, a lamp socket pivoted in sai casing and projecting into said reflector, said reflector having an opening -to receive said socket and to permit oscillatory movement thereof while in its normal position and means for voscillating said socket and tilting said reflector.

8. In an electric headlight, the combination of a casing, a reflector pivotally mounted therein and having a normal upright position, a pivotally mounted lamp socket projecting into said reflector, a lamp bulb carried thereby, means initially operable to shift said lamp bulb relative to said reflector while said reflector is in its normal position and subsequently operable 'to tilt said reflector.

9. In an electric headlight, the combination of a` casing, a pivoted reflector in said casing having a normal upright position, a lamp socket pivotally mounted in'said casing intermediate its ends, a lamp bulb in the forward end of said socket, means for normally holding said socket with the bulb in focal position, said reflector having an enlarged opening to receive said socket and permit the same to rock independently of the reflector and means engaging the rear end of said socket for rocking the same and for causing said socket to engage and tilt said reflector.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature HENRY R. DAVIES. 

